Burial vault or the like



Nov. 29, 1955 T. SICKLER 2,724,839

BURIAL VAULT OR THE LIKE Filed Sept. 20, 1954 2 sheets sheet l INVENTOR 77/080,? SIC/(l 1? ATTORN EYS Nov. 29, 1955 T. SICKLER BURIAL VAULT OR THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 20, 1954 5 8 3 5 Lw 0 K E M 5 INVENTOR 77/0601? J/C/(ZEA United States Patent BURIAL VAULT OR THE LIKE Thobum Sickler, Clarksboro, N. J.

Application September 20, 1954, Serial No. 457,142

3 Claims. (Cl. 27-35) The present invention relates to metallic burial vaults and similar boxes and cases, for example those used for hermetic sealing of objects which are to be stored.

A purpose of the invention is to simplify the sealing of an end closure and avoid the necessity for securing numerous attaching devices such as screws, bolts, or latches.

A further purpose is to provide a seal of an end closure which is forced into sealing material in a recess both at the sides and forward as it moves into sealing position, and also which is engaged by sealing material desirably at the inside of a band at the rear in the direction of motion as it moves to sealing position.

A further purpose is to force the end closure into its position by a sealing band and at the same time accomplish a seal by plastic material forced around the edges of the end closure by the motion of the band and particularly by the displacement of the plastic material when the band is forced into the recess or groove containing the plastic material. i

A further purpose is to provide an end closure which will remain tight for a long period of years, but which can be inserted without noise or delay at the time closure is made.

A further purpose is to pull the closure band into closed position by a trunk latch or the like which engages one end of the band, the other end of the band being pivoted.

Further purposes appear in the specification and in the claims.

In the drawings I have chosen to illustrate one only of the numerous embodiments in which my invention may appear, selecting the form shown from the standpoints of convenience in illustration, satisfactory operation and clear demonstration of the principles involved.

Figure l is a perspective of a metallic burial vault or the like to which the invention has been applied.

Figure 2 is an enlarged end elevation showing the vault before the end closure has been lowered in place.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, after the end closure has been lowered but before it has been fastened.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the completed end closure.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary section on the line 55 of Figure 2, taken to enlarged scale.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line 6-6 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line 7-7 of Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary enlarged section on the line 88 of Figure 4.

Describing in illustration but not in limitation and referring to the drawing:

Extensive use has been made of metallic cases as burial vaults and other containers. One of the difficulties particularly in the case of metallic burial vaults has been the closure to provide tight sealing. In usual practice the burial vault must be closed at the grave, and in 2,724,889 Patented Nov. 29, 1955 "ice some cases while the mourners are present; Any closure which is very time consuming, complicated, noisy or highly mechanized is likely to be out of keeping with the mood of the occasion and therefore'unsuitable.

The present invention is designed to provide a simple, inexpensive and eifective end closure which can be closed on a burial vault while the vault remains on the lowering device and after the casket has been inserted at the time of the funeral. The closure can be made so quickly and simply that it is possible to complete the operation at the end of the committal service while the mourners are present if desired.

Thus in accordance with the invention, the necessity of handling great weights which have been present in the case of concrete burial vaults is avoided and it is no longer necessary to use large numbers of men or special equipmentin connection with the placement of the'vault.

While the widest application of the invention is believed to be in burial vaults, it is also applicable to closing metallic boxes and containers of other characters, for example those for long term storage of military equipment and the like. It will, of course, be understood that a suitably inert atmosphere can be introduced into the container at the time of closure or after closure if desired, using valved openings not shown.

The vault of the invention comprises a top 20, suitably of domed construction to provide an arch for support, side walls 21, a bottom 22 and a normally closed end 23, formed in any suitable way and united together as by welding. The box proper and the other components other than'sealing material will suitably be of a metal such as plain carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum base alloy, copper base alloy, magnesium base alloy, or the like. The wall thickness may be of sheet or plate grade as desired. R

As initially produced, the vault has one open end 24' which serves to introduce a casket (in the case of a burial vault) sliding the casket on bottom rails'25 which run longitudinally.

The bottom and sides of the vault near the open end are provided with an inwardly directed sealing recess 26 which is in a transverse plane. The sealing recess is conveniently made by forming the end sheet into a bead 27 and securing an angle 28 in spaced relation on the inside of the bead as by a welding 30.

The recess 26 is initially filled at the bottom and sides of the vault by a plastic sealing material 31 which may conveniently be a caulking compound of any well known type such as an asphalt base, rubber base, polyvinyl chloride base, or the like. The bead 27 is desirably carried clear around the end including the top, and consists of a reverse bend 32 and an inner flange 33.

In line transversely with the recess 26, the top of the vault is provided with an access slot 34 which extends clear across the top, and at the access slot 34 the angle 28 is machined away to remove the flange adjoining the top, so that it protrudes inwardly merely as a rib 35 welded to the top of the vault. Thus the angle 28 may extend integral around as a ring, or may be inserted in segments and welded together in place.

An end closure 36 is provided which is wide enough to slide through the access slot 34 and extend into the recess 26 at the side, forcing the sealing material 31 out aty37 to seal around the bottom and side edges of the end closure. The end closure, however, desirably does not extend either at the side or bottom far enough to be forced all the way through the sealing material, there being sealing material all around the end closure at both the side and bottom.

When the end closure is home, it protrudes at 38 slightly beyond the slot 34 at the top to aid in accomplishing sealing at the top. A strip 40 of channel shape is desirably hinged at 41 at one end to the vault in line with the access slot, and at the other end has a latch recess 42 which is engaged by a latch engaging loop 43 of a trunk latch of well known character. The latch engaging loop is suitably pivoted at :44 inalatching-lever operated by handle 45, and the lever is itself pivoted at 46 to the vault so that when the strip is partially homeland the latching-lever is moved clockwise inthe position of Figures 2 and 3, thezlatch engagingloop 43 hooks in the latching slot 42 on ;the end of the strip 40 and then as the latching lever 45 'is pulled counterclockwise in the posi tion of Figures v2 and 4, the strip 40 is pulled taut and isforced into tight sealing engagement by the movernent downward 'of'pivot'44 of the engaging loop 43. In final latching position the :pivot '44 moves beyond the dead center of the pivot 46andl-holds 'thestrip 40 tight.

The strip 40 desirably has channel flanges 47 and an intermediate-channelsection 48 which forms a groove 50 which holds plastic sealing material '51 which .may be of the character of the plastic sealing material 31. When the strip is pulled taut it is flexible and engages firmly against the top-:of the vault, and as the upper edge at 38is forced into the sealing material 51, the sealing material 51 is-extruded, entering and closing the access groove 34 at both sides and being forced at 52 into the space between the bead 27 and the end closure at the top and at '53 between the end closure and the rib 35 at the inside. The effect is then to seal all around the end closure against the vault The extent to which theplasticmaterial will protrude beyond the groove of'the band-initially will vary to suit the particular installation.

It will be evident that the walls of the vault and the end closure and the associated metallic part can be suitably protected against corrosion both inside and out as desired.

In view of my invention and disclosure variations and modifications to meet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident to others skilled in the art,

to obtain all .or part of the benefits of my invention without copying the structure shown, and I, therefore, claim all such insofar as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope of my claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A burial vault or the like, including a box having an open end, in combination with walls forming an internally directed sealing recess extending around a portion of the periphery at the open end, plastic sealing material in the sealing recess, walls forming an access slot extending around the remainder of the periphery at the open end in line with the sealing recess, an end closure entering transversely through the access slot and engaging with the sealing material in the sealing recess, a sealing strip having an internally directed groove, plastic sealing material in the groove of the strip, and means for securing the strip in locking engagement over the edge of the end closure at the access slot and for forcing the sealing material in the groove into sealing engagement with the edge or" the end closure and with the access slot on either side of the end closure.

2. A burial vault or the like according to claim 1, in which the means for securing the sealing strip comprises hinge means securing one end of the strip to the burial vault and latch means for engaging and pulling the other end of the strip into tight engagement at the edge of the end closure and the access slot on either side of the end closure.

3. A burial vault or the like according to claim 2, in which the end closure in closed position protrudes beyond the box at the access slot to engage the sealing material in the groove.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,259,068 Babich Mar. 12, 1918 

